Solar Learning Activities

The YPOP Solar Classroom is filled with hands-on, solar related activities. There is something for everyone. Many of these activities teach you about the Sun itself. Others teach a physical concept, like rotation, using the Sun as an example. We invite teachers, students, parents and children of all ages to experiment with the activities below. Enjoy!

Hands-On Solar Learning Activities

	SOLAR CYCLES: Investigate the cycles of the Sun with 250 years of data! Learn to recognize common features and match x-ray images of the sun with visible light images from the same day. This lesson has been adapted into an exciting ICEBREAKER ACTIVITY as well!
	IMAGE FILTERING: Build your own inexpensive, color, filter wheel and use it to study an image of the Crab Nebula! Discover why scientists use different filters to study astronomical images. View several images of the Sun as seen through different solar filters.
	SATELLITE ORBITS: Have you ever seen a satellite passing overhead at night? Did you wonder how high up it was? In this lesson you will obtain the period of the Yohkoh satellite from an image of its orbital path which is updated regularly. With this information you will calculate the height of the satellite above the Earth's surface.
	FUN WITH PIXELS: Magnify images of your school or yourself and see what happens. Learn about the pixels that make up all images. Use pixels to create secret messages to your friends, or uncover a mystery picture!
	THE EARTH'S ORBIT: Investigate the shape of the Earth's orbit based on the apparent changing size of the Sun. Is the orbit elliptical? Is it circular? Compare the difference in the Sun's diameter as measured from two points in the Earth's orbit and see what you discover!
	MODEL SATELLITE: Build a model of the Yohkoh solar satellite. With a cardboard box and some paper you can make a model of the Yohkoh satellite. Instrument blueprints are provided along with detailed instructions for construction.
	ROTATION: Study the rotation rate of the Sun and the planets. This lesson includes several hands-on activities to familarize yourself with the concept of rotation. You will then use movies made with actual solar images to study the rotation rate of the Sun.
	MEASURING SUNSPOTS: Learn image processing skills that will help you measure the size of solar sunspots. You will be able to use these skills to measure features on any electronic image. Graphics processing software is needed. Download links are provided in the lesson.
	SUNDIALS: Learn how to make a portable, inexpensive sundial of your own. Wear it as a necklace or make a keychain! Novice, Intermediate, and Expert instructions are provided.

After spending some time in the Solar Classroom, visit the Spotlight Room to learn more interesting facts about the Sun. There is even a Solar Tour!. You also might enjoy a look at the latest solar images from space.